American paratrooper Albert Blithe who served in World War II and Korean War

American paratrooper Albert Blithe who served in World War II and Korean War

I have been finding out about the people who served in the wars. I recently re-watched The Band of Brothers and I wanted to find out more about these remarkable men. So let me introduce to you Albert Blithe. I find his story quite powerful. He was not one of the most famous names to come out of Easy Company, but his life shows us the long and often complicated journey of a soldier who carried his experiences beyond the battlefields of the Second World War.

Albert Blithe was born on the 25th of June 1923 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Before finishing high school, he made the decision to enlist in the U.S. Army on the 18th of August 1942. 

He trained as a paratrooper at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. By 1944, he was part of one of the most ambitious operations of the war. On D-Day, he parachuted into Normandy, but like many others, he landed far away from the intended drop zone. In the confusion and darkness, he found himself isolated before he was eventually able to regroup with his fellow paratroopers and rejoining his unit.

The fighting that followed was intense, particularly during the struggle for Carentan. It was here that Blithe experienced a temporary loss of sight that was brought on by extreme stress. But he recovered and even returned to duty, this is stark reminder of the mental as well as physical toll war has. Not long after this, whilst he was investigating a farmhouse, he was shot in the shoulder by a sniper. On his 21st birthday, he received the Purple Heart for his wounds. Due to his injuries, he was sent back to the United States in October 1944 and did not return to the European front. For a time, even his former unit believed he had died from his wounds, a misunderstanding that lasted for years.

After recovering, Blithe continued his service. During the Korean War, he served with the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team. In one particularly dangerous operation, he parachuted behind enemy lines and found himself surrounded by a Chinese battalion. For his bravery, he was awarded both the Silver Star and the Bronze Star. Over the course of his career, he would receive three Bronze Stars and three Purple Hearts, alongside the Army Commendation Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. His campaign and service medals included those for the American campaign, the European-African-Middle Eastern theatre, the Second World War victory, occupation duty in Germany, national defence, and service in Korea under both United Nations and Korean recognition. He also earned the Combat Infantryman Badge with a second award, the Master Parachutist Badge with two combat jump stars, and unit citations from both U.S. and Korean forces.

Blithe stayed in the Army for many years, eventually gaining the rank of Master Sergeant and serving in roles such as military advisory work in Taiwan. 

In December 1967, while still on active duty in Germany, he became seriously ill following a visit to Bastogne, somewhere that is closely tied to the history he had lived through. He died on the 17th of December after complications from surgery. He was buried with full military honours at Arlington National Cemetery.

Image info:

Albert Blithe at Camp Toccoa in Georgia Date: 1942